This week, we tell a story from the lawless mountain border between western North Carolina and east Tennessee during the Civil War. As great battles raged elsewhere, outlaws and deserters came to the mountains to hide, to rob and to turn old trails and creek crossings into killing grounds.

At the center of this story is John Jackson Kirkland and his gang, whose violence touched soldiers, civilians, rivals, and even their own kin. This is a story of a war without sides, and justice that never came.

If you’ve not done so already, subscribe to the Stories podcast wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss any upcoming episodes.  Consider becoming a supporter of the podcast and get extra content along with an ad-free feed of our stories!

Thanks for listening.